“How dare you!” bulalas ni Diane. Hindi na niya napigilan ang galit niya. Itinaas niya ang kanyang kamay para sampalin ako pero bago pa man dumapo sa mukha ko ang sampal niyang iyon, isang malakas na kamay ang sumalo sa pulso ni Diane sa ere. “I don’t think that’s necessary.” Nagulat ako sa muling pagsulpot ni Marcus Aiden Enrique Rickson Sandejas. Not that I am complaining, but why does he always show up in the most unexpected moments? Kung nagulat ako, mas lalong nagulat sina Diane at Anne. “E-Enrique San-Sandejas,” hindi makapaniwalang pansin ni Diane. Si Anne naman, nakatulala kay Enrique. Sandali, huwag mong sabihing kasali ang dalawang ito sa fans club ni Marcus Aiden Enrique Rickson Sandejas. “This place also does not tolerate violence. If I were you, I wouldn’t start a fight, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to set foot here again.” Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses, si Ate Pia iyon at may kasama siyang dalawang babae. Hindi ko kilala iyong isa pero namumukhaan k

“Espinoja, get your hands off of her.” Hindi na naituloy ni Hannah iyong sasabihin niya dahil sa pagsabad ng isang makisig na boses.My eyes drifted to the man who is now standing behind Zane. He immediately pulled me close to him and away from Zane.Ma-ingat akong inilayo ni Enrique kay Zane. He held both my shoulders and he looked at me in the eye. He said nothing but the way he looked at me was telling me to be strong. I was trembling, I know, but I felt Enrique’s hand on mine as he locked our fingers together as if offering his hand to be my stress ball.“Enrique Sandejas?” hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Zane.“I didn’t know you know Lorryce, my girlfriend,” turan ni Enrique. May diin sa ‘my girlfriend.’Napa-ismid lamang si Zane, “oh yeah, I know her.”Bumaling si Zane sa akin.“Did you not tell him?” Zane asked then silently mouthed to me, “Babe.”Dahil sa ginawa niya humigpit ang hawak ko sa kamay ni Enrique para pigilan ang aking emosyon.“I don’t know what you are talking about

Lorryce“Just tell me what I should do to make you feel better.”Ini-angat ko ang aking mukha para tignan si Enrique. Suddenly, I felt not alone anymore. I felt like someone is lending a hand to me so I can rise from a painful fall.I was touched and I cried even harder kasi pakiramdam ko, mayroon na akong karamay, kakampi.“Shit, I’m sorry okay! Whatever it is that I said that made you cry harder. I knew it. I should have just shut up,” tila bulyaw niya sa kanyang sarili.“Heartbreak Prince, can you just come sit beside me and act like a leading man in a Korean drama who lends his shoulder to the leading lady in distress?”He does not seem to like the idea basing from the slightly cringing look on his face but he still sat beside me and placed his arms around my shoulders.“Fine, just this once. I’ll pretend to be your Captian Si-Jin or Captain Ri, ano bang bet mo?” kaswal na turan ni Enrique.I chuckled at what he said. “I can’t believe you watched DoTS and CLOY?”“I don’t. But I’m

The school is so alive. Tonight is SPU’s Freshman Night. Isa ito sa mga pinaka-aabangang events sa SPU. Isinasagawa ang Freshman Night para i-welcome ang mga freshmen ng SPU at ang mga bagong estudyante para magkakila-kilala. Bonfire party ang tema ng Freshman Night ngayong taon. Isang napakalaking bonfire ang nasa gitna ng open ground ng SPU. Samantala mayroong maliliit na bonfire na nakapaligid dito kung saan pwedeng magtipon ang mga maliliit na grupo ng mga estudyante. Sa mga gilid ng open space nakalatag ang malalaking buffet table na punong-puno ng masasarap na pagkain; chicken at pork barbecue, pizza, mojo and fries, iba’t ibang salads, appetizers at iba’t ibang makukulay na sweets at desserts. Para sa beverage section, may choice of alchoholic or non-alchoholic beverages. Ang wine section na naglalaman ng rich selection of top grade wines naman ay sponsored by Mr. Thomas Fredrick Rosenheim.8 PM na pero ang taas ng level of excitement ng mga tao rito sa school. Libo-libo man

Lorryce“Hi, I’m Lorryce. I’m Enrique’s girlfriend.”Ang tagal bago ako nagawang kamayan ni Mildred. Parang na-replay ‘yong unang beses na nakita ko siya. Iyong masaya niyang mukha kanina bago ako dumating, unti-unting naging miserable. I can tell that she is really trying so hard not to cry in front of me pero damang-dama ko ang bigat ng dinadala niya.I feel her. Mahirap rin naman para sa akin itong ginagawa ako. I am deliberately hurting her feelings by pretending to be the girlfriend of the man she loves. Pero sa pamamagitan nito, umaasa ako na matulungan ko siya.“H-hi,” Mildred said with a trembling voice.“Aaahhh… I-I think I have t-to go. Baka… baka kasi hinahanap na ako nina Leah. Sige, alis na ako. B-bye Enrique. I’ll just see you sa practice.”She tried to smile but I felt her difficulty. Bigla akong nakonsensya. Enrique and I just watched her walk away. Kahit anong tago niya, hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang pagpunas niya ng luha mula sa mga mata niya.I put on a neutral yet c